Willie McGee hired by St. Louis Cardinals

Former MLB baseball players Lou Brock (l.) and Willie McGee talk during the fifth inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins, Feb. 28, in Jupiter, Fla.

Julio Cortez/AP

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JUPITER, Fla.

The St. Louis Cardinals have hired former great Willie McGee as a special assistant to the general manager focusing on the minor leagues.

The 54-year-old McGee, added to the staff on Wednesday, served a special instructor at spring training last month. McGee is in the franchise top 10 in games played, triples, stolen bases and pinch hits and was a career .295 hitter over 18 seasons.

McGee was a member of the 1982 World Series championship team and was National League MVP in 1985 with a league-leading .353 average for a pennant-winning team. His batting average from 1985 and 216 hits are franchise bests for switch hitters.